We just finished another great NCAA Tournament. Ready for more? Sure. So why not take an early look at March Madness – 2012. Yes, there’s a lot we don’t know. Several players will decided whether to make a leap to the NBA or return to college. It may be especially challenging this year with the threat of an NBA lockout. That in mind, here’s a not-too-serious, but fun look ahead at what we might see on Selection Sunday next March. It’s a good thing these things are actually decided on the court.

Based on what we know and/or anticipate … our No. 1 seeds are Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Ohio State. Connecticut, the defending champs, open as a 2 seed.

NOTE: In the 68-team format you will notice two pairing games that represent the First Four pairings. In this bracket the First Four games would be … South Carolina vs. Dayton | Virginia vs. BYU | UT-San Antonio vs. NC-Ashville | Hampton vs. Tx-Southern. The final four at-large teams are paired along with the teams seeded 65-68 on the S-curve. The matchups are indicated in the bracket below.

BRACKET PROJECTION … 2012

EAST – Boston

SOUTHEAST – Atlanta

Greensborgo

Louisville

1) North Carolina

1) Kentucky

16) Hampton / Tx-Southern

16) NC-Asheville / UT-San Antonio

8 Colorado

8 USC

9) Georgia

9) Georgetown

Portland

Nashville

5) Marquette

5) Texas A-M

12) Harvard

12) Maryland

4) Wisconsin

4) Memphis

13) Creighton

13) Kent State

Louisville

Columbus

6) Butler

6) Missouri

11) Illinois

11) Washington State

3) Vanderbilt

3) Michigan

14) Wofford

14) Bucknell

Pittsburgh

Nashville

7) George Mason

7) Xavier

10) Kansas State

10) New Mexico

2) Connecticut

2) Louisville

15) Florida-Atlantic

15) Murray State

SOUTHWEST – St. Louis

WEST – Phoenix

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

1) Syracuse

1) Ohio State

16) Montana

16) UC-Santa Barbara

8 Michigan State

8 West Virginia

9) Temple

9) Washington

Portland

Columbus

5) Alabama

5) Gonzaga

12) Virginia / BYU

12) South Carolina / Dayton

4) UCLA

4) Cincinnati

13) Utah State

13) Belmont

Omaha

Albuquerque

6) Florida

6) Pittsburgh

11) California

11) VCU

3) Kansas

3) Arizona

14) Iona

14) Long Island

Greensboro

Albuquerque

7) Villanova

7) Florida State

10) Purdue

10) Wichita State

2) Duke

2) Texas

15) Vermont

15) Oral Roberts

NOTES on the BRACKET: Kentucky is the overall No. 1 seed followed by North Carolina, Syracuse, and Ohio State.

Last Five teams in (at large): Maryland, BYU, South Carolina, Virginia, Dayton

First Five teams out (at large): Notre Dame, Old Dominion, Clemson, St. John’s, Duquesne